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Hamilton’s Washington Lifted from Speeches

By now, everyone knows about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s significant contribution to American musical theatre and to radically altering our perspective on the Founding Fathers in American History. His musical Hamilton is sold out; he just won a Grammy…and he got all NY Newspaper critics (Yes, even the NY Post) to give great reviews.

In one of the play’s many memorable moments, George Washington, skillfully played by the actor Christopher Jackson, dictates his Farewell Address to Alexander Hamilton, played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The text of the duet they sing together at near the end is lifted almost entirely from Washington’s Farewell Address.

When the Genius website annotated these lyrics, they referenced the phrase “Under their vine and fig tree” as being quoted in the Hebrew Scriptures in three different places: Micah 4:4, 1 Kings 4:25, and Zechariah 3:10.1. They explain that this particular scripture quote is Micah 4:4.

[HAMILTON-repeating the last paragraphs of Washington’s Farewell Address; sung as a duet with WASHINGTON]
Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. I shall also carry with me the hope that my country will view them with indulgence; and that after forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service, with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as I myself must soon be to the mansions of rest. I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat, in which I promise myself to realize the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government, the ever-favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers.

The Closing Lines of Washington’s Farewell Address:

(lines in blue not in lyrics above)

…”Though in reviewing the incidents of my Administration, I am unconscious of intentional error–I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they may be I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also carry with me the hope that my Country will never cease to view them with indulgence; and that after forty five years of my life dedicated to its Service, with an upright zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the Mansions of rest.

Relying on its kindness in this as in other things, and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is so natural to a Man, who views in it the native soil of himself and his progenitors for several Generations; I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat, in which I promise myself to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midst of my fellow Citizens, the benign influence of good Laws under a free Government–the ever favourite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labours and dangers.”